However, employment rates for these northern cities were still considerably below the national average, the research suggested.

Inequalities

The centre looked at economic performance within cities as well as between cities and found "inequalities" across the UK, with some large areas known for their regeneration and new buildings being the most unequal.

It concluded that Manchester was the most unequal city in England, as "less than a mile from Manchester's new Piccadilly Station (and London's Canary Wharf), there are entrenched pockets of worklessness and underperforming housing markets".

Our biggest cities like Birmingham, Manchester and London are polarised within their own boundaries

Dermot FinchDirector of Centre for Cities

The Centre for Cities is an independent urban policy research unit that works to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in Britain's cities.

The centre's director, Dermot Finch, said: "These figures show that it's less 'grim up north'.

"Cities like Warrington and Doncaster are on the up, but need to sustain this momentum over many years if they are going to catch up with the likes of York and Milton Keynes.

"Our biggest cities like Birmingham, Manchester and London are polarised within their own boundaries.

"They need to address the deep-rooted wealth inequalities on their own patch, by moving beyond constructing shiny new buildings if they are to continue to grow."